House Backs Bill to Change Overtime Rules for Private Sector

Labor News

Reprinted from The New York Times by The Associated Press on May 2, 2017.

The House has backed legislation that would allow private sector companies to give employees compensation time off rather than overtime pay.

The vote was 229-197 on Tuesday as six Republicans joined 191 Democrats in opposing the measure.

Republicans cast the measure as offering greater flexibility for employers and workers. Democrats complained that the bill undermines the Fair Labor Standards Act. No Democrat voted for the measure.

Republican Representative Pete Sessions of Texas says the work force has changed dramatically, and that employees in both the public and private sector should have the same chance to balance work and personal life.

Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland says the bill “effectively devalues what workers can earn for the extra hours they work.”